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The Poems of Edward Taylor

Edited by Donald E. Standford ... With a foreword by Louis L. Martz
Taylor, Edward (1642-1729)

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[section]
  
Prologue
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Preparatory Meditations before my Approach to the Lords Supper. Chiefly upon the Doctrin preached upon the Day of administration
 1. 
1. Meditation
 2. 
2. Meditation on Can. 1.3. Thy Name is an Ointment poured out.
 3. 
3. Meditation. Can. 1.3. Thy Good Ointment
  
The Experience.
  
The Return.
 4. 
4. Meditation. Cant. 2.1. I am the Rose of Sharon.
  
The Reflexion.
 5. 
5. Meditation. Cant. 2.1. The Lilly of the Vallies.
 6. 
[6.] Another Meditation at the same time.
 7. 
7. Meditation. Ps. 45.2. Grace in thy lips is poured out.
 8. 
8. Meditation. Joh. 6.51. I am the Living Bread.
 9. 
9. Meditation. Joh. 6.51. I am the Living Bread.
 10. 
10. Meditation. Joh. 6.55. My Blood is Drinke indeed.
 11. 
11. Meditation. Isai. 25.6. A Feast of Fat things.
 12. 
12. Meditation. Isai. 63.1. Glorious in his Apparell.
 13. 
13. Meditation. Col. 2.3. All the Treasures of Wisdom.
 14, 15. 
14. 15. Meditations. Heb. 4.14. A Great High Priest.
 16. 
16. Meditation. Lu. 7.16. A Greate Prophet is risen up.
 17. 
17. Meditation. Rev. 19.16. King of Kings.
 18. 
18. Meditation. Isai. 52.14. His Vissage was marr'd more than any man.
 19. 
19. Meditation. Phil. 2.9. God hath highly exalted him.
 20. 
20. Meditation. Phil. 2.9. God hath highly Exalted him.
 21. 
21. Meditation. Phil. 2.9. God hath Highly Exalted Him.
 22. 
22. Meditation. Phil. 2.9. God hath Highly Exalted him.
 23. 
23. Meditation. Cant. 4.8. My Spouse.
 24. 
24. Meditation. Eph. 2.18. Through him we have—an Access—unto the Father.
 25. 
25. Meditation. Eph. 5.27. A Glorious Church.
 26. 
26. Meditation. Act. 5.31. To Give—Forgiveness of Sins.
 27. 
27. Meditation. Col. 1.19. In Him should all Fulness Dwell.
 28. 
28. Meditation. Joh. 1.16. Of His Fulness wee all receive: and Grace—
 29. 
29. Meditation. Joh. 20.17. My Father, and your Father, to my God, and your God.
 30. 
30. Meditation. 2 Cor. 5.17.—He is a New Creature.
 31. 
31. Meditation. 1 Cor. 3.21.22. All things are yours.
 32. 
32. Meditation. 1 Cor. 3.22. Whether Paul or Apollos, or Cephas.
 33. 
33. Meditation. 1 Cor. 3.22. Life is youres.
 34. 
34. Meditation. 1 Cor. 3.22. Death is Yours.
 35. 
35. Meditation. 1 Cor. 3.22. Things Present.
 36. 
36. Meditation. 1 Cor. 3.22. Things to come yours.
 37. 
37. Meditation. 1 Cor. 3.23. You are Christ's.
 38. 
38. Meditation. 1 Joh. 2.1. An Advocate With the Father.
 39. 
39. Meditation. from 1 Joh. 2.1. If any man sin, we have an Advocate.
 40. 
40. Meditation. 1 Joh. 2.2. He is a Propitiation for our Sin.
 41. 
41. Meditation. Joh. 14.2. I go to prepare a Place for you.
 42. 
42. Meditation. Rev. 3.22. I will give Him to sit with me in my Throne.
 43. 
43. Meditation. Rev. 2.10. A Crown of Life.
 44. 
44. Meditation. 2 Tim. 4.8. A Crown of Righteousness.
 45. 
45. Meditation. 1 Pet. 5.4. Ye shall receive a Crown of Glory.
 46. 
46. Meditation. Rev. 3.5. The same shall be cloathed in White Raiment.
 47. 
47. Meditation on Matt. 25.21. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
 48. 
48. Meditation on Matt. 25.21. Enter into the Joy of thy Lord.
 49. 
49. Meditation. Matt. 25.21. The joy of thy Lord.
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Preparatory Meditations
 1. 
1. Meditation. Col. 2.17. Which are Shaddows of things to come and the body is Christs.
 2. 
2. Meditation. Coll. 1.15. The First Born of Every Creature.
 3. 
3. Meditation. Rom. 5.14. Who is the Figure of Him that was to come.
 4. 
4. Meditation. Gal. 4.24. Which things are an Allegorie.
 5. 
5. Meditation on Gal. 3.16. And to thy Seed Which is Christ.
 6. 
6. Meditation on Isai. 49.3. Thou art my Servant, Oh, Israel.
 7. 
7. Meditation. Ps. 105.17. He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold etc.
 8. 
8. Meditation. Rom. 5.8. God commends his Love unto us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
 9. 
9. Meditation. Deut. 18.[15] The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet—like unto mee.
 10. 
10. Meditation. Which our Fathers that Follow'd after, brought in with Jesus, into the Possession of the Gentiles. Acts. 7.45.
 11. 
11. Meditation. Jud. 13.3. The Angell of the Lord appeared to the Woman, etc.
 12. 
12. Meditation. Ezek. 37.24. David my Servant shall be their King.
 13. 
13. Meditation. Ps. 72. The title. A Psalm for Solomon.
 14. 
14. Meditation. Col. 2.3. In whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom, and Knowledge.
 15. 
15. Meditation. Mat. 2.23. He shall bee called a Nazarite.
 16. 
16. Meditation. Lu. 1.33. He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever.
 17. 
17. Meditation. Eph. 5.2. And gave himselfe for us an offering, and a Sacrifice to God.
 18. 
18. Meditation. Heb. 13.10. Wee have an Altar.
 19. 
19. Meditation. Can. 1.12. While the King sits at his Table, my Spicknard sends forth the Smell thereof.
 20. 
20. Meditation. Heb. 9.11. By a Greater, and more Perfect Tabernacle.
 21. 
21. Meditation. Col. 2.16.17. In respect of an Holy Day, of a New Moon, or a Sabbath. Which are figures.
 22. 
22. Meditation. 1 Cor. 5.7. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
 23. 
23. Meditation. 1 Joh. 2.2. He is the Propitiation for our Sins.
 24. 
24. Meditation Joh. 1.14. εσκηνωσε[ν] εν ημιν Tabernacled amongst us.
 25. 
25. Meditation Numb. 28.4.9. One Lamb shalt thou offer in the Morning, and the other at Even. And on the Sabbath day two Lambs etc.
 26. 
26. Meditation Heb. 9.13.14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, etc.
 27. 
27. Meditation Upon Heb. 9.13.14. How much more shall the Blood of Christ etc.
 28. 
28. Meditation Isai. 32.2. A man shall be for a hiding place from the Winde.
 29. 
29. Meditation 1 Pet. 3.20. While the Ark was Building.
 30. 
30. Meditation Math. 12.40. As Jonah was three Dayes, and three nights in the Whales belly. So must etc.
 31. 
31. Meditation Joh. 15.13. Greater Love hath no man etc.
 32. 
32. Meditation Joh. 15.13. Greater Love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his Life for his friends.
 33. 
33. Meditation Joh. 15.13. Greater Love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his Life for his Friend.
 34. 
34. Meditation. Rev. 1.5. Who loved us and washed away our Sins in his Blood.
 35. 
35. Meditation Joh. 15.5. Without me yee can do nothing.
 36. 
36. [Meditation.] Col. 1.18. He is the Head of the Body.
 37. 
37. Meditation. Col. 1.18. He is the Head, etc.
 38. 
38. Meditation. Col. 1.18. He is the Head of the Body, the Church, who is the Beginning.
 39. 
39. Meditation. Col. 1.18. The First Born from the Dead.
 40. 
40. Meditation. Col. 1.18. That in all things he might have the Preheminence.
 41. 
41. Meditation. Heb. 5.8. He learned by the things which he suffered.
 42. 
42. Meditation. Heb. 10.5. A Body hast thou prepared mee. σωμα δε κατηρτισω μοι
 43. 
43. Meditation. Rom. 9.5. God blessed forever.
 44. 
44. Meditation Joh. 1.14. The word was made Flesh.
 45. 
45. Meditation. Col. 2.3. In whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom.
 46. 
46. Meditation. Col. 2.9. The Fulness of the Godhead dwelleth in him bodily.
 47. 
47. Meditation. Joh. 5.26. The Son hath life in himselfe.
 48. 
48. Meditation. Rev. 1.8. The Almighty.
 49. 
49. [Meditation.] Joh. 1.14. Full of Grace.
 50. 
50. Meditation. Joh. 1.14. Full of Truth.
 51. 
51. Meditation. Eph. 1.23. Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
 52. 
52. Meditation. Mat. 28.18. All Power in Heaven, and Earth is given mee.
 53. 
53. Meditation. Mat. 28.18. All Power is given me in Heaven, and in earth.
 54. 
54. Meditation. Matt. 28.18. All Power is given mee In Heaven, and in earth.
 56. 
56. Meditation. Joh. 15.24. Had I not done amongst them the works, that none other man hath done, etc.
 58. 
58. Meditation. Math. 2.15. Out of Egypt have I called my Son.
 59. 
59. Meditation. 1 Cor. 10.2. Baptized in the Cloud.
 60A. 
60[A]. Meditation. Joh. 6.51. I am the Living Bread, that came down from Heaven.
 60B. 
60[B]. Meditation. Cor. 10.4. And all drunk the same spirituall drinke.
 61. 
61. Meditation. Joh. 3.14. As Moses lift up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of man be lift up.
 62. 
62. Meditation. Can. 1.12. While the King sitteth at his table, my Spicknard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
 63. 
63. Meditation. Cant. 6.11. I went down into the Garden of Nuts, to see the fruits etc.
 64. 
64. Meditation. Can. 6.11. To see—if the Vine Flowrisht, and the Pomegranate bud.
 65. 
65. Meditation. Can. 6.11. To see the Fruits of the Vally.
 66. 
66. Meditation. Joh. 15.13. Greater Love hath no man than this That a man lay down his Life for his Friends.
 67A. 
67[A]. Meditation. Mal. 4.2. But unto you that Feare my name, shall the Sun of Righteousness arise.
 68A. 
68[A]. Meditation. Mal. 4.2. The Sun of Righteousness, etc.
 67B. 
67[B]. Meditation. Mal. 4.2. With Healing in His Wings.
 68B. 
68[B]. Meditation. Mal. 4.2. Ye shall go forth and grow as Calves of the Stall.
 69. 
69. Meditation. Cant. 2.2. The Lillie of the Vallies.
 70. 
70. Meditation. Col. 2.11.12. In whom also ye are Circumcised with Circumcision made without hands, in putting off of the sins of the flesh by the Circumcision of Christ, buried with him in baptism: etc.
 71. 
71. Meditation. 1 Cor. 5.8. Let us keep the Feast, not with old Leven.
 72. 
72. Meditation. Mar. 16.19. Sat down on the right hand of God.
 73. 
73. Meditation. 1 Tim. 3.16. Received into Glory.
 74. 
74. Meditation. Phi. 3.21. His Glorious Body. τω σωματι της δοξης αυτου
 75. 
75. Meditation. Phil. 3. ult. Our Vile Bodie το σωμα της ταπεινωσεως ημων
 76. 
76. Meditation. Phi. 3.21. Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like his Glorious body.
 77. 
77. Meditation. Zech. 9.11. The Pit wherein is no water.
 78. 
78. Meditation. Zech. 9.11. By the Blood of thy Covenant I have sent forth thy Prisoners out of the Pit wherein is no water.
 79. 
79. Meditation. Can. 2.16. My Beloved is mine and I am his.
 80. 
80. Meditation. Joh. 6.53. Except you eate the flesh of the Son of Man, etc. ye have no Life in you.
 81. 
81. Meditation. Joh. 6.53. unless ye eat the Flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
 82. 
82. Meditation. Joh. 6.53. Unless yee eate the Flesh of the Son of Man, and drinke his blood, ye have no life.
 83. 
83. Meditation. Can. 5.1. I am come into my Garden, etc.
 84. 
84. Meditation. Can. 5.1. I have gatherd my Myrrh with my Spice.
 85. 
85. Meditation. Can. 5.1. I have eate my Hony Come with my Hony. I have drunk my Wine with my Milk.
 86. 
86. Meditation. Can. 5.1. Eat Oh! Friends. Drink, yea drink abundantly Oh! Beloved.
 87. 
87. Meditation. Joh. 10.10. I am come that they might have Life.
 89. 
89. Meditation. Joh. 10.10. I am come that they might have Life.
 90. 
90. Meditation. Joh. 10.28. I give unto them Eternal Life.
 91. 
91. Meditation. Matth. 24.27. So also shall the coming of the Son of Man be.
 92. 
92. Meditation. Math. 24.27. So also shall the Coming of the Son of Man be.
 93. 
93. Meditation. Joh. 14.2. In my Fathers house are many Mansions.
 94. 
94. Meditation. Joh. 14.2. In my Fathers House are Many Mansions.
 95. 
95. Meditation. Joh. 14.2. I go to prepare a place for you.
 96. 
96. Meditation. Cant. 1.2. Let him kiss me with the Kisse of his mouth.
 97. 
97. Meditation. Can. 1.2. Let him kiss me with the Kisses of his mouth.
 98. 
98. Meditation. Can. 1.2. Thy Love is better than Wine.
 99. 
99. Meditation. Isa. 24.23. He shall walk before his Ancient gloriously.
 100. 
100. Meditation. Isai. 24.23. The Lord of Hosts shall reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before his Ancients gloriously.
 101. 
101. Meditation. Isai. 24.23. Then shall the Moon be Confounded, and the Sun ashamed when the Lord of host shall rain in Mount Zion—Gloriously.
 102. 
102. Meditation. Mat. 26.26. While they were Eating, he took Bread and Blessed etc.
 103. 
103. Meditation. Mat. 26.26. As they were eating he tooke bread etc.
 104. 
104. Meditation. Matth. 26.26.27. He tooke Bread.—And he also tooke the Cup
 105. 
105. Meditation. Matt. 26.26. Jesus tooke Bread and blessed it, and brake it.
 106. 
106. Meditation. Matth. 26.26.27—take Eate—Drinke yee.
 107. 
107. Meditation. Lu. 22.19. This do in remembrance of Mee.
 108. 
108. Meditation. Matt. 26.26.27. Jesus took bread—and he took the Cup
 109. 
109. Meditation. Mat. 26.26.27: And gave it to his Disciples.
 110. 
110. Meditation. Matt. 26.30. When they had sung an Hymn.
 111. 
111. Meditation. 1. Cor. 10.16. The Cup of blessing which wee bless, is it not the Comunion of the body of Christ? etc.
 112. 
112. Meditation. 2 Cor. 5.14. If one died for all then are all Dead.
 113. 
113. Meditation. Rev. 22.16. I am the Root and Offspring of David.
 114. 
114. Meditation. Rev: 22.16. The bright and morning Star.
 115. 
115. Meditation. Cant. 5:10. My Beloved.
 116. 
116. Meditation Can. 5.10. My Beloved is White, and Ruddy, the Chiefest among ten thousand.
 117. 
117. Meditation. Cant. 5.10. The Chiefest among ten thousand. [HEBREW]
 118. 
118. Meditation. Can. 5.11. His Head is most fine Gold.
 119. 
119. Meditation. Can. 5.12. His Eyes are as the Eyes of Doves by Rivers of Waters washed with milk, and fitly set.
 120. 
120. Meditation. Can. 5.13. His Cheeks are as a Bed of Spices, as sweet Flowers etc.
 121. 
121. Meditation. Cant. 5.13. His Lips are like Lillies, dropping sweet smelling Myrrh.
 122. 
122. Meditation. Cant. 5.14. Thy hands are as gold rings [HEBREW] Orbs set [HEBREW] filld with Berill.
 123A. 
123[A]. Meditation. Cant. 5.14. His Belly: (i.e. Bowells) is as bright Ivory overlaid with Saphires.
 123B. 
123[B]. Meditation Cant. 5.15. His Legs are as Pillars of Marble set (founded) on Sockets [[HEBREW] Bases] of fine Gold.
 125. 
125. Meditation. Cant. 5.15. His Countenance is like Lebanon, Excellent as the Cedars.
 126. 
126. Meditation. Cant. 5.16. His Mouth is most sweet.
 127. 
127. Meditation. Cant. 5.16. He is altogather Lovely [HEBREW] all of him, or of his eius vel ipsius totum is desirable.
 128. 
128. Meditation. Cant. 6.1. Whither is thy Beloved gone, Oh! thou Fairest among Women? etc.
 129. 
129. Meditation. Can: 6.2. My Beloved is gon into his Garden.
 130. 
130. Meditation. Cant. 6.2. My Beloved is gone down into his Garden, to the Beds of Spices.
 131. 
131. Meditation. Cant: 6.2. To the Beds of Spice to feed in the Garden, and to gather Lillies.
 132. 
132. Meditation. Can. 6.3.—He feeds among the Lillies.
 133. 
133. Meditation. Cant. 6.2. I am my beloved and my beloved is mine.
 134. 
134. Meditation. Cant. 6.4. Thou art beautiful as Tirzah Oh my Love Comely as Jerusalem.
 135. 
135. Meditation. Can. 6.4. Terrible as an Army with banners.
 136. 
136. Meditation. Cant. 6.5. Turn away thine Eyes from mee. For they have Over come mee.
 137. 
137. Meditation. Cant. 6.5. Thy hair is like a flock of Goats that graze on mount Gilliad.
 138. 
138. Meditation. Can. 6.6. Thy Teeth are like a flock of Sheep that come Up from Washing whereof every one bears twins.
 139. 
139. Meditation Cant. 6.[7.] Like a piece of a Pomegranate are thy Temples within thy Locks.
 140. 
140. [Meditation.] Cant. 6.7. As a piece of a Pomegranate are thy Temples within thy Locks.
 141. 
141. Meditation Cant. 6.8.9. There are threescore Queens, and fourscore Concubines, and Virgins without number.
 142. 
142. Meditation. Can. 6.9. My Dove is One the onely One of her mother the Choice One of her that bare her etc.
 143. 
143. Meditation. Can. 6.10. Who is she that looks forth as the morning. Fare as the Moon Clear as the Sun. Terrible as an Army With Banners.
 144. 
144. Meditation. Cant. 6.11. I went down into the Garden of nuts to se the fruits of the Vally, to se whether the Vine flowerished and the Pomegranate Budded.
 145. 
145. Meditation. Can. 6.12. Or ere I was aware my soule had made mee like the Chariots of Aminadab.
 146. 
146. Meditation. Cant. 6.13. Return, oh Shulamite, return return.
 147. 
147. Meditation. Cant. 6.13. That wee may look upon thee.
 148. 
148. Meditation. Can. 7.1. How beautiful are thy feet with Shooes, oh Prince's daughter: the Joynts of thy Thighs are as jewells etc.
 149. 
149. Meditation. Can. 7.2. Thy Navill is a round Goblet [HEBREW] bason Exo: 26. thy belly is a heap of Wheate set about with Lillies.
 150. 
150. Meditation. Cant. 7.3. Thy two breasts are like two young Roes that are twins.
 151. 
151. Meditation. Cant. 7.4. Thy Neck is like a Tower of Ivory: thine Eyes are like the Fishpools of Heshbon, at the Gate of Bath Rabbim: thy Nose is like the tower of Lebanon that Looketh towards Damascus.
 152. 
152. Meditation. Can. 7.5. Thy Head Upon thee is like Carmel and the hair of thy head like Purple. The King is held in the galleries.
 153. 
153. Meditation. Cant. 7.6. How Fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delight?
 154. 
154. Meditation. Heb. 11.6. Without Faith its impossible to please God.
 155. 
155. Meditation. 2 Cor. 13.5. Examine yourselves whether you be in the Faith; know you not yourselves that Christ is in you except you be reprobats?
 156. 
156. Meditation Cant. 5.1. Eate oh Friendes and drink yea drink abundantly oh Beloved.
 157A. 
157A. Meditation. Cant. 2.4. He brought me into the Banqueting house and his banner over me was Love.
 157B. 
157B. Meditation. Can. 2.4. He brought me into the Banqueting house and his banner over me was Love.
 158. 
158. Meditation on Joh. 1.14. We beheld his Glory as the Glory of the Onely begot Son, full of Grace and Truth.
 159. 
159. Meditation Rev. 3.10. He that over comes will I give to eat of the Hidden Mannah.
 160. 
160. Meditation Cant. 2.1. I am the Lilly of the Vallie.
 161A. 
161A. Meditation. Cant. 2.3. As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons.
 161B. 
161B. Meditation Cant. 2.3. As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons.
 162. 
162. Meditation Cant. 2.3. I sat under his shadow with greate delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
 163. 
163. Meditation Cant. 2.3. His fruit was Sweet to my Tast.
 164. 
164. Meditation Cant. 2.4. He brought mee into his Banqueting house (house of Wine) and his banner over me was love.
 165. 
165. Meditation. Cant. 2.5. I am sick of Love.
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Gods Determinations touching his Elect: and The Elects Combat in their Conversion, and Coming up to God in Christ together with the Comfortable Effects thereof.
  
The Preface.
  
The Effects of Mans Apostacy.
  
A Dialogue between Justice and Mercy.
  
Mans Perplexity when calld to an account.
  
Gods Selecting Love in the Decree.
  
The Frowardness of the Elect in the Work of Conversion.
  
Satans Rage at them in their Conversion.
  
The Souls Address to Christ against these Assaults.
  
Christs Reply.
  
The Effect of this Reply with a fresh Assault from Satan.
  
First Satans Assault against those that first Came up to Mercys terms.
  
The Accusation of the Inward Man.
  
The Outward Man accused.
  
The Soul accused in its Serving God.
  
The Souls Groan to Christ for Succour.
  
Christs Reply.
  
An Extasy of Joy let in by this Reply returnd in Admiration.
  
The Second Ranke Accused.
  
The Third Rank accused.
  
A Threnodiall Dialogue between The Second and Third Ranks.
  
Their Call in this Sad State for Mercy.
  
The Soule Bemoning Sorrow rowling upon a resolution to seek Advice of Gods people.
  
The Preface.
  
The Souls Doubts touching its Sins Answerd.
  
Doubts from the Want of Grace Answerd.
  
Doubts from Satans Temptations Answered.
  
Some of Satans Sophestry.
  
Difficulties arising from Uncharitable Cariages of Christians.
  
The Effect of this Discourse upon the second, and third Rancks.
  
Our Insufficiency to Praise God suitably, for his Mercy.
  
The Soule Seeking Church-Fellowship.
  
The Soul admiring the Grace of the Church Enters into Church Fellowship.
  
The Glory of and Grace in the Church set out.
  
The Souls Admiration hereupon.
  
The Joy of Church Fellowship rightly attended.
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Miscellaneous Poems
 1. 
[1.] [When] Let by rain.
 2. 
2. Upon a Spider Catching a Fly.
 3. 
3. Upon a Wasp Child with Cold.
 4. 
4. Huswifery.
 5. 
5. Another upon the Same.
 6. 
6. Upon Wedlock, and Death of Children.
 7. 
7. The Ebb and Flow.
 8. 
8. Upon the Sweeping Flood Aug: 13. 14. 1683.
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A Funerall Poem Upon the Death of my ever Endeared, and Tender Wife Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor, Who fell asleep in Christ the 7th day of July at night about two hours after Sun setting 1689 and in the 39 yeare of her Life.
 1. 
PART. 1.
 2. 
PART. 2.
 3. 
PART. 3.
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An Elegy upon the Death of that Holy and Reverend Man of God, Mr. Samuel Hooker, .
 1. 
[PART. 1.]
 2. 
[PART.] 2. TO NEW ENGLAND.
 3. 
PART. 3. TO CONNECTICUT.
 4. 
PART. 4.
 5. 
PART. 5. TO THE FAMILY RELICT.
  
HIS EPITAPH.
  
A Fig for thee Oh! Death.

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229

80. Meditation. Joh. 6.53. Except you eate the flesh of the Son of Man, etc. ye have no Life in you.

6.1m [Mar.] 1707/8.
This Curious pearle, One Syllable, call'd LIFE,
That all things struggle t'keep, and we so prize
I'd with the Edge of sharpen'd sight (as knife)
My understanding sheath'th anatomize
But finde Life far too fine, I can not know't.
My sight too Dull; my knife's too blunt to do't.
And if you say, What then is Life? I say
I cannot tell you what it is, yet know
That Various kinds of Life lodg in my clay.
And ery kinde an Excellence doth show:
And yet the lowest sort so secret lies
I cannot finde it nor anatomize.
But here I finde, that all these kindes proove Stares
Whereon I do ascende to heaven to,
My Lord, thyselfe, and so do mock earths Snares
Those snick snarls, and thus my Soul Steps goe
From Vegetate to Sensitive thence trace
To Rationall, and thence to th'Life of Grace.
What though I know not what it is? I know,
It is too good to bee full known by any
Poor Perblinde man, that squints on things, although
It's Life, its quickening Life to very many,
Yea t'all th'Elect. It is a slip up bred
Of Godlike life, in graces garden bed.
230

Grace is the Pearle, the Mother Pearle of Pearles
In which this Pearle of Life is kirnell choice.
Christ dropt it in the Soule, which up it ferles
A Lignum Vitae's chip of Paradise.
Its Heart and Soule of Saving Grace outspred
And can't be had till Grace be brought to bed.
The Soule's the Womb. Christ is the Spermodote
And Saving Grace the seed cast thereinto,
This Life's the principall in Graces Coate,
Making vitality in all things flow,
In Heavenly verdure brisking holily
With sharp ey'de peartness of Vivacity.
Dead Looks, and Wanness, all things on them weare,
If this Life Quickens not, Things Spirituall Dead.
The Image too of God is grown thrid bare
If this Choice Life be n't with Christ's body fed.
All other lives dance on, in hellish wayes
Eternally, unless this Life out blaze.
Thou art, my Lord, the Well-spring of this life.
Oh! let this Life send Rivelets in my heart.
That I may by lifes streames in Holy Strife
Conquour that death, at whose dead Looks I start.
When of this Life my soule with Child doth spring
The Babe of Life swath'de up in Grace shall sing.
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